Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MSc)

Department

Kinesiology and Physical Education

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

Dr. Jill Tracey

Advisor Role

Supervisor

Second Advisor

Dr. Kaleigh Pennock

Advisor Role

Thesis Advisory Committee Member

Third Advisor

Dr. Alanna Harman

Advisor Role

Thesis Advisory Committee Member

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Sheereen Harris

Advisor Role

External Examiner

Abstract

With the heightened awareness of the long-term health risks and current ongoing issues in concussion reporting, understanding the sociocultural factors influencing football athletes reporting behaviours and psychological readiness to return to sport becomes essential to improve healthier sporting communities and athlete wellbeing. The study explored masculinity in Canadian football and its influence on athletes’ psychological readiness and return to sport after sustaining a sport-related concussion. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with current or recently retired Usport football athletes who had sustained at least one sport-related concussion within the last 5 years. A realist approach to a reflexive thematic analysis produced 6 interconnected themes: (1) Masculinity as Currency in Football, (2) Man up or Move Aside, (3) Rebuilding Readiness in a Body that Feels Unreliable, (4) Social Negotiation of Injury Recovery and Masculinity, (5) Making Sense of a Concussion in Times of Uncertainty, (6) Football Culture Through the Winds of Change. Findings from the study revealed masculinity being a central role in football, influencing athlete’s behaviours, actions, perceptions, and psychological readiness. The findings extend current research noting psychological readiness as being more than an intra-individual emotional state that excludes social and contextual factors. Instead, the findings suggest and acknowledge psychological readiness as being deeply rooted in football culture, where the ideals of masculinity highly shape athletes’ identity, decision making, and psychological readiness to return-to-sport. This research is of importance because it illuminates reasoning behind football athletes’ deleterious behaviours, beliefs, and actions after sustaining a sports-related concussion.

Convocation Year

2027

Convocation Season

Fall

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Available for download on Sunday, June 24, 2029

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